Winter is the season of influenza, which can be life-threatening in some cases. The flu vaccine is described as a shield against the serious consequences that it may have.
1. Who should take the flu vaccine?
The German Standing Committee on Immunization recommends that all people over the age of 60, all residents in nursing homes and care, all pregnant women as of the fourth month and all persons with increased health risks be vaccinated. The example is particularly at risk for influenza. In addition, all those who care or deal with this most at-risk group should be vaccinated, such as medical staff.
2. In what cases should vaccination not be performed?
The Permanent Vaccination Committee notes that one of these cases is an allergy to the components of the vaccine, such as egg protein, so you should talk to your doctor before vaccination. As well as: Any person with severe and serious diseases, with fever greater than 38.5 degrees, for example.
3. What is the correct time to receive the vaccination?
In principle, November is a good time for vaccination. It takes about 14 days for the vaccine to properly protect. Vaccination can also be carried out in January or February, if not in November.
4. What are the risks of vaccination?
The head of the German Society for Infectious Diseases, Professor Gerd Wittkenhuer, confirms that the flu vaccine is safe in principle and has no negative effects apart from minor problems such as redness, pain at the injection site or discomfort the next day.
5. Can pregnant women be vaccinated?
A vaccine expert at the German Association of Gynecologists Michael Voisinsky says pregnant women should receive the vaccine because they are more likely to become infected and have a higher risk of complications. It is important that those around pregnant women, especially their husbands, are vaccinated. For lactating women, they can take the vaccine and sometimes they have to.
6. Why should pregnant women be vaccinated at a certain time?
The Vaccination Committee recommends that pregnant women be vaccinated during the second trimester. Mr Vojinsky says this has no medical reasons. The vaccine is always safe because pregnant women are vaccinated if they are infected early.
7. Is the flu dangerous to the fetus?
Voisinsky answers yes because high fevers increase the risk of preterm labor and miscarriage, as well as the risk of supply disruptions such as lack of oxygen. Vojinsky says that vaccination of the mother is in the best interests of the fetus by lending antibodies, which entails better protection against influenza in the first few months of the life of the child after birth.
8. Should children be vaccinated?
In principle, the vaccination committee does not recommend this or at least in the case of health risks from other diseases. According to the committee, influenza vaccine can be obtained from the age of six months. It is often the same dose as the vaccine that adults receive, and there is another nasal vaccine for children if they are afraid of injections.
9. After vaccination, am I fully protected from infection?
The vaccine does not affect 100% because the virus mutates from time to time, which means that the vaccine is no longer suitable, which is why the vaccine's effect varies from season to season. Under ideal conditions, the protective effect is about 80%.
10. How often should I take the vaccine?
Only once every year. On the one hand, because vaccine protection fades over time, immunity lasts from 6 to 12 months. In addition, the influenza virus is highly mutated, which results in a constantly changing vaccine composition.